Although the Hawaiian islands are small, there’s so many sights to explore - especially on capital island of Oahu! When you’ve only got 4 days to vacation in Oahu, its definitely worth your time to plan your itinerary in advance.

I’ve broken this blog post up into sections - each one caters to specific travel interests. There’s plenty for foodies, beach lovers, nature adventure seekers and family fun. My suggestion for building your Oahu 4-Day Itinerary would be select your top four must-see items and then add-on meal options.

Guide to the Best Beaches in Oahu

Something important to note about the beaches on Oahu, the waves can be very strong - especially on the North Shore. This makes it ideal for surfing, but not necessarily great for casual swimming. I have listed below some of the best and safest beaches for swimming in Oahu. The best swimming conditions are between the springtime and fall, winter brings the big waves.

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai beach has been voted one of the best beaches in the world! The calm waters are a deep shade of aqua blue and the sand on the shore is white and smooth. There’s no public parking lot, just park in the residential neighborhoods and walk to the shore via the beach access trails between the houses.

Hanauma Bay

This stunning beach is known as a great place for swimming and snorkeling. The waters are very clear and there’s plenty of reef with fish. You can book a tour of the North Shore which includes transportation and snorkel gear for Hanauma Bay.

Waimea Bay

Located in the North Shore of Oahu, Waimea Bay is perfect for swimming and snorkeling - but only in the summer. The waves can get fairly big and unsafe in the winter. For all you daredevils, at Waimea Bay you can also go cliff jumping!

Ko Olina Lagoons

The Ko Olina Lagoons are known for very calm waters on the shore - great place for safe swimming and bringing small children. Green sea turtles are often spotted here too.

Cockroach Cove / Eternity Beach

This beach has some popular attractions such as the Halona Blowhole Lookout, a hidden lava tube, and beautiful crystal blue waters. You do need to climb some somewhat steep lava rocks to access the beach - so make sure you have proper footwear.

Kualoa Regional Park

A spacious green park with a long stretch of beach and calm waves. On the shore you can see great views of Mokolii Island (Chinaman's Hat). There’s a large parking lot with free parking, and picnic areas with BBQs.

Pro Tip: Make sure you are prepared for the perfect beach day by referencing this handy Hawaii packing essentials guide. Nothing puts a damper on a day at the beach quicker than realizing you’re missing a few key items!

The Best Hiking Trails in Oahu

Hike to Manoa Waterfalls

This moderate hike takes you to a secluded waterfall in the jungle with breathtaking views. Several scenes from Jurassic Park and TV show Lost were filmed at Manoa Falls. The hike is about 2 miles roundtrip and can get muddy so wear proper footwear. You can book a small-group tour to Manoa Falls here.

Diamond Head Crater Hike

If you’re into volcanos and want a challenging hike, you can climb the 760-foot summit to this famous crater. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Waikiki and the aqua blue ocean waters. Make sure to wear appropriate hiking shoes, the trail can be a bit steep and rocky.

Stairway to Heaven Hike

This is one of the most famous and epic hikes on the island of Oahu, also known as Haiku Stairs. It’s very popular on Instagram because of the incredible views. It takes 3,922 stairs to get to the top but sadly the most direct trail for this hike is now illegal and hikers are receiving large fines (up to $1,000). You can hire a professional guide to show you a safe and legal trail to the top.

Makapuu Trail in East Oahu

You’ll begin your adventure at the Kaiwi Shoreline where you can find the trailhead for the Makapuu Trail. It’s an easier trail and takes about 40 minutes to get to the top. This hike is ideal for elderly, young children and anyone looking for a more relaxing hike. Keep an eye for the cute red Makapu’u Lighthouse!

Koko crater HikE

If you decide to take this trail, be prepared for a serious workout. The trail is also know as the Koko Head Stairs which has over 1,000 steps to reach the top. As you continue to climb up the staircase, the views get better and better. Sign up for a tour.

Ocean Excursions & Adventures in Oahu

Sea Turtle Watching

Hawaii is one of the few places you can see sea turtles roaming free in their natural habitat. Laniakea Beach is also know as “Turtle Beach” because in the summer you around sunset you can often find sea turtles on the beach.

You can also find sea turtles kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in Haleiwa Harbor. If you’re willing to get into the water and go snorkeling in search of sea turtles then head over to either Turtle Canyon or Electric Beach in Oahu. You can also book a snorkeling tour at Turtle Beach!

Lastly I had mentioned Ko Olina Secret Lagoon earlier as a great place for swimming. Because the waters are so calm at this beach, you can clearly see the turtles swimming in the shore.

Scuba Diving

If you like swimming deeper into the ocean, Oahu has some unique diving sights for scuba divers. Along with your typical reefs and wildlife, you can also find sunken shipwrecks. The Mahi Shipwreck is on the west side of Oahu and it’s also a common place to find eagle rays hanging out.

Mermaid Caves

For all the adventure seekers out there, the mermaid caves are fun to explore in Waianae, Oahu. This “secret spot” makes for an awesome photography destination. To swim and navigate through these caves, it does require some upper body strength and you must be in good physical shape.

Swim with Sharks

Thrill seekers can book an underwater tour to swim with sharks. You can opt to swim inside a protective cage or can swim completely cage-free - depending on how brave you are! Make your reservations for shark diving here.

Surfing Lessons in Oahu

Capture the Aloha spirit while catching waves on a surf board. All kinds of surfers can enjoy the warm Hawaiian waters, you just gotta make sure you’re at the best beach for your skill level. Pair-up with a surf instructor that can tailor your lessons to you.

Swim with Dolphins

Have a real-life flipper adventure by swimming with dolphins in Oahu. Your expert guide will take you to the best viewing location and help you to keep a safe distance while still seeing plenty.

Where to Rent Kayaks in Oahu

My husband and I are huge fans of kayaking, and when our daughter gets older we’ll be right back at it. When we travel I use Viator to locate the best places to rent kayaks. The last time I checked Viator’s website, they had over 25 kayak rental options in Oahu.

Whale & Dolphin Watching

If your trip to Oahu is in the winter, take advantage of the whale migration patterns as swim right through the Hawaiian ocean waters. You’ll see humpback whales and dolphins on your boat tour.

Foodie Guide to Native Hawaiian Foods

Shaved Ice in Oahu

Definitely one of the most popular sweet treats to enjoy in Hawaii is their famous shaved ice. These colorful desserts resemble snow cones and come in a large variety of flavors.

You can find the best shaved ice in Oahu at:

Matsumoto
Island Snow (doubles as a clothing store too, and it’s also a favorite of President Obama!)
Kailua General Store

Malasadas - “Hawaiian Donuts”

For many years traditional donuts were not available on the Hawaiian islands. But they these malasadas are just as yummy - delicious dough fried and covered with sugar. In Oahu you can find these pastries at Leonard’s Bakery or Pipeline Bakeshop and Creamery.

The Hawaiian Plate Lunch

A typical Hawaiian quick meal is the “plate lunch” which consists of white rice, macaroni salad and a choice of meat or fish. During our recent trip to Oahu we stopped for lunch at Papa Ole’s Kitchen in the North Shore. They serve up traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and BBQ.

Poke

While Poke Bowls have gone mainstream in the USA mainland (mostly in California), it doesn’t compare to eating them fresh in Hawaii. Poke dates back to the native Polynesians and consists of mostly marinated raw fish. Similar to sushi - but still very different.

Where can you find the best poke in Oahu? The locals recommend Paina Cafe, Ono Poke Co., and Tanioka’s.

Kahuku Farms

Many foodies like myself enjoy eating their treats in a farm-to-fork type setting. Kahuku Farms is located on the North Shore and you can swing by to enjoy fresh Hawaiian Acai Bowls and chocolate from the produce they grow on the farm. Farm tours are also available!

Macadamia Nuts

Hawaii is known for having thriving macadamia nut farms because they love the volcanic soil. You’ll find all kinds of ways to eat macadamias throughout the islands - my favorite is dipped in chocolate!

100% Kona Coffee

Coffee lovers will tell you that Kona Coffee is extra special because of its perfected flavor and pleasing aroma. Kona Coffee is only grown in Hawaii and it’s always in limited supply because of the minimal amount of land where it can be grown. While Kona Coffee is always expensive, you can enjoy it at Hawaiin coffee chain Island Vintage Coffee.

Exotic Fruit Flavors to Try

Throughout your Hawaiian travels you’ll comes across some new fruit flavors that you’ve likely never heard of. It could be for native sweet breads or shaved ice, either way you should try them!

guava
taro
POG - Passion Orange Guava Juice
li hing mui
lilikoi passion fruit
pineapple

The ABC Island Country Market in Oahu carries a lot of local flavors that you can shop and take along for a beach picnic. You can also shop the Oahu Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market for exotic fruits like rambutan, yellow dragon fruit, lilikoi (passion fruit), and guava.

Kalua Pig

One of the traditional rituals at a Hawaiian luau is cooking a pig in an underground oven. This meat is called Kalua Pork and is favorite Native Hawaiian food. Kono’s restaurant at the North Shore specializes in all kinds of foods featuring their 12-hour slow-roasted Kalua Pork.

Shrimp Trucks

During our trip to Oahu we saw so many shrimp food trucks scattered throughout the island. We even see tour buses that took loads of tourists to eat at these popular shrimp trucks. Locals rave about the garlic shrimp from Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.

Ted’s Bakery

Located on the North Shore, Ted’s Bakery is famous for its original chocolate - haupia cream pie. I tried it for myself and it was super sweet and delicious. My husband loved their traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and BBQ.

Poi

To be completely honest, I was super excited to try poi for the first time… and I was kinda disappointed with the lack of flavor. The texture was similar to mashed potatoes and the flavor was like a bland sweet potato. But you should still try it for yourself, keep an eye out at local restaurants to find poi on the menu.

More to Explore in Oahu:

Dole Plantation

The Dole Plantation is probably one of the most famous landmarks in all of Hawaii. I have fond memories from my childhood exploring the pineapple gardens. There’s so many great spots to take beautiful family photos and you have try the famous Dole Whip dessert.

Luaus

Luaus are probably one of the most popular ways to enjoy traditional Native Hawaiian culture. Luaus are essentially large celebrations with music, hula dancing and food. On the island of Oahu the most popular luaus are the Paradise Cove Luau and Germaine’s Luau.

Honolulu & Waikiki in Oahu

The city of Honolulu is not only the capital of Hawaii but it’s also the most populous city in the entire state. You’ll find most of Hawaii to be calm and quiet, but there’s a lot of hustle and bustle in Honolulu. This is where you’d want to go for nightlife, large vacation resorts and shopping. The Waikiki neighborhood is the most popular area for tourism.

Pipeline Surfing Competition

Every December one of the biggest global surf competitions happens at Banzai Pipeline Beach on the North Shore of Oahu. During our most recent visit to Oahu we were lucky enough to see the completion in full-swing. There’s a lot of excitement and energy happening around this event, and you can watch the surfers while standing on the beach.

Interstate H-3 / John A. Burns Freeway

Sometimes it’s more about the journey and the destination is secondary. The H-3 highway has been called “the most beautiful highway in the world.” A bold statement but you completely understand when you see it in person. The H-3 runs for 15.3 miles and provides spectacular views of lush green mountains, ocean horizons, and jungle wild flowers.

Kualoa Ranch

This massive 4000-acre nature reserve is open to the public for tours. Over 75 movies have been filmed inside Kualoa Ranch including 50 First Dates, Jumanji and Jurassic Park. Book a Jeep jungle expedition as you drive through lush rain forests and mountains.

There’s also other ways you can explore Kualoa Ranch - on a horseback riding tour, zipline tour, or an ATV tour.

Helicopter Tour of Oahu

See Oahu from a bird’d eye view while riding in a helicopter. Talk about epic views! On the tour you’ll see famous Oahu landmarks such as Sacred Falls, Diamond Head, Maunalua Bay, the Ko'olau Mountains, Ka'a'awa Valley, Pearl Harbor, and more. Book your helicopter tour today!

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Pearl Harbor is the USA’s most significant WWII memorial and one of the most visited attractions in Hawaii. Because it’s located about 30 minutes outside Waikiki, one of the easiest ways to see Pearl Harbor is to book a tour with hotel pick-up service.

Nu’uanu Pali Lookout

We drove up through the mountains to reach this famous lookout spot. At the top you’ll see panoramic views of lush green jungles, volcanic rocks and the ocean. It was extremely windy at the lookout spot, my hair looked crazy in all my photos! This road can be closed due to extreme weather conditions, especially in the winter.